It should be no surprise that Pendergrass Mayor Monk Tolbert signed off on a final plat for a subdivision in the town in 2007 in a manner that was either stupid or fraudulent.

The Jackson County Water & Sewerage Authority recently discovered that Tolbert had affixed his signature to a final plat for the Pendergrass Depot subdivision in October 2007 on behalf of the authority.

But Tolbert had not been authorized by the authority to do that, nor are the sewer lines and other infrastructure even in place.
So why did Tolbert sign a document he wasn’t authorized to sign?

Because in Pendergrass, the mayor believes he can “do whatever the hell I want to do.”

This issue was only discovered because the FDIC had taken over the bank that financed the project and is trying to figure out the subdivision’s real worth. It was from that paperwork search the water authority discovered that Tolbert had acted on their behalf without authorization.

All of this comes on the heels of an ongoing GBI investigation into the town’s finances and allegations of corruption by three whistleblowers who have filed lawsuits against the town.

The truth is, Pendergrass does not deserve to exist as an incorporated town. It is run by one family which uses the legal shell of city incorporation to further its own investment and real estate interests. The town has over and over thumbed its nose at government ethical standards.

Enough is enough. Mayor Tolbert and the City of Pendergrass are an embarrassment to all of Jackson County and do not represent citizens.

Pendergrass as an incorporated city should be abolished by the Georgia General Assembly.

We hope Rep. Tommy Benton and other area legislators will introduce legislation to do just that.

Mike, many people are in agreement with you that Mayor Tolbert's actions and his nepotism have caused a huge embarrassment to those of us who live in Pendergrass. And it is time for a change. You can be assured that when the time comes, things ARE going to change here. Stay tuned.

However, your suggestion to abolish the city of Pendergrass is not warrented and very unfair to all of the families who love our community. I have had a conversation with Rep. Benton about the many options that local citizens might excersize to resolve our leadership issues. It is my understanding (and I hope Mr. Benton will correct me if I am wrong)that Pendergrass holds a very unique distinction in its stature as a city with a chartered government structure. This was grandfathered in to the GA statutes when they were changed. Communities of our size can no longer get this status. Now that there are a significant number of property owners besides the Tolberts and Gees, our ability to govern and preserve the best interests of our community are vital in order to protect us from county and state efforts to encrouch on the rural tranquility that we all moved here for.

It is time for a different kind of leadership in Pendergrass and that is yet to be seen. But abolishing a community that has a rich history in Jackson County in order to rid us of coruption is not the best way.

Pendergrass is indeed grandfathered and if abolished, would have to grow to re-incorporate in the future. However, the citizens of Pendergrass are not able to effect change in the city government; the town's at-large system gives the "family" the ability to control elections. In addition, many who oppose the city government's actions fear speaking out. So the town has a police department designed for revenue, not public safety; the city council refuses to hear from citizens at public meetings; the city government is in deep financial debt; the citygovernment is under investigation for its financial practices; and now the city's mayor has pulled a county agency into its mess by misrepresenting himself as speaking for the water authority. Are the citizens able to change any of that? Are they even trying? Rogue governments like Pendergrass do not deserve to exist. I'm not confident the citizens will be able to make any changes; I hope you prove me wrong.
Mike

With all due respect - which is less than what you have given to the citizens of Pendergrass - your comment is very condescending and insulting. Pendergrass has changed ALOT in the last couple of years and we ARE capable of making changes. Your disrespect is unwarrented and unwanted. Please keep your comments and opinions upbeat and fact-based, lest you become associated with the problem rather than the solution. We have no use for your "Hatfield and McCoy" mentality.

My comments were not condescending, just based on the history of the community's political system. I hope you are correct, but the past does not indicate that the problems in the town will be self-correcting any time soon. Meanwhile, the antics of Pendergrass' government continue to affect all of Jackson County in a negative way.

Mike, I do not feel your comments were condescending towards the citizens of Pendergrass. I truly appreciate the spotlight you shine on our useless "government". Their antics and immorality do not reflect on those of us who call Pendergrass home. It is time to abolish our city. We will still be a community, only a better one. At this point, the only way to cut the Tolbert's deep roots is to no longer have a need for a city government. The title of "City", nor the Tolberts, should define us and keep us from having the COMMUNITY we dream about. Right now we may be a blemish on Jackson County but one day soon we will be the flagship for small town life and all that JC has to offer! Keep up teh good work Mike!

We all saw what happened when we tried to "do something" about the corruption in our small town...NOTHING! Now we are not even allowed public input at the city council meetings. Give me a break!

The ONLY way that we will have a chance to change anything in this backward town is to elect new council members and a mayor. But the emense damage is already done, and the damage continues to grow in such a manner, that I don't think an election would make much of a difference. Of course, that's assuming that we could elect new officials...and we all know what happens when we assume!

Just curious "Lives There", maybe you should point out some of the changes that have occurred in Pendergrass in the last couple years. Since there have been "ALOT", it shouldn't take you long to pick just a few. And who facilitated those changes?

I don't think Mike is being disrespectful or condescending, I think he's presenting facts. Instead of getting personal, give him facts to back up your stance.

From the sidelines, I'd tend to agree with Mike. I don't see the citizens of Pendergrass doing anything to improve their unbelievably laughable "government" situation, and it is embarrassing to the rest of the county, the state, and the South in general. Good ol' boy cartoon characters are running your town. What are you doing to change that?

Kathy - the change that has taken place in Pendergrass is the makeup of the community. This is no longer a little speed trap town of tenants renting from a slum lord. It is a growing community of homeowners raising families and people in search of a quiet place to retire. And these new residents are angy and they are attending city council meetings and court hearings, and they are meeting and talking and planning about the future in a calm and focused manner. You'll get no argument from me when it comes to the widespread embarrassment that the current city government has brought on all of us. Your suggestion is like the proverbial "cutting off your nose to spite your face". But consider for a moment what misguided anger and vengence will get us if we allow this COMMUNITY to be abolished. Should our COMMUNITY be annexed back into the county, there will be no way to protect us from the county commissioners when they decide to capitalize on the prime real estate (I-85 and Hwy. 129)and allow more warehouses and shipping terminals to build in our backyards. "Lives There Too" and "Kathy" - You sound passionate enough about our COMMUNITY - I hope you will step up and join us and get involved in securing our future.

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